Tickets

To accommodate the increasing number of guests who wish to attend Ohio State's Autumn Commencement in the Schottenstein Center, we have instituted a ticketing process. Admission tickets are free but must be ordered online through the "My Ohio State Student Account" portal used to request athletic and other tickets. Autumn graduates may request up to four general admission tickets with the option of joining a waitlist to receive up to four additional tickets. A ticket is required for all guests age 2 and older. Tickets are not required for graduates. See instructions below.

First and foremost, students must meet all application deadlines as set by their respective college offices and follow any rules set forth by their college for participating in the ceremony. Only students who have applied and been approved to graduate are eligible to request tickets for the ceremony. Potential graduates must apply for graduation through their college by November 9 in order to receive additional messages regarding ticketing process. Students who have applied to graduate should check their Ohio State email account regularly for important commencement messages, or refer to this website for updates.

Ticketing Timeline

November 9– *Deadline to apply to graduate and continue receiving communications on how to request ticketsNovember 15 - Ticket request window opensNovember 30 - Ticket request window closes (11:59 p.m.)December 4 - Waitlist ticket requests will be filled if possibleDecember 6 - Graduates are able to print their commencement tickets at home

Ticket Basics

Graduates do not need a ticket and should enter the Schottenstein Center through the southwest rotunda entrance.

Graduates are responsible for ordering tickets for their guests. An admission ticket is required for any guest age two (2) and older. Children younger than 2 years of age who sit on the lap of another guest do not need a ticket. All graduating students may request up to four general admission tickets, with the option of joining a waitlist to receive up to an additional four tickets. The general admission tickets are not automatically added to your account — you must still request them through the online system.

Please be advised that due to application deadlines and the high demand for tickets, announcements regarding waitlist tickets are not made until early December. Graduates and families are encouraged to take this timeline into consideration when planning travel arrangements to the Columbus campus. Any guest who does not receive a ticket to commencement is welcome to watch the proceedings online via the live video stream. Seating within the Schottenstein Center, including accessible seating, will be first-come, first-served.

Important note: So we can best accommodate all guests who wish to attend the ceremony, we ask that graduating students please request only the tickets they will need.

2. Enter your email address (name.#@osu.edu) and the password associated with your Ticket Office Account. Note: Your Ohio State Student Tickets account password is typically no the same as your osu.edu password. If you have forgotten your password or are logging in for the first time, please click the "Forgot Your Password" link, and a temporary password will be sent to your Ohio State email address.

3. Select the number of commencement tickets you would like to request - up to four - from the drop-down menu and click "Add to Cart". To ensure that as many graduates as possible receive commencement tickets, please request only the number of tickets you need.

4. Select "Print @ Home" from the "Select Delivery" drop-down menu, and click "Checkout". Note: You will not be able to print your tickets right away. You will receive an email with printing instructions in early December.

5. Review your order for accuracy and check the box that indicates you agree to the terms of use.

2. Enter your email address (name.#@osu.edu) and the password associated with your Ticket Office Account. Note: Your Ohio State Student Tickets account password is typically no the same as your osu.edu password. If you have forgotten your password or are logging in for the first time, please click the "Forgot Your Password" link, and a temporary password will be sent to your Ohio State email address.

3. Click the button next to 2018 Autumn Commencement, and after that click the button next to "Submit Wait List Request".

4. Select the number of commencement tickets you would like to request - up to four - you would like to add to the waitlist from the drop-down menu and click "Add to Cart".

5. Select "Print @ Home" from the "Select Delivery" drop-down menu, and click "Checkout". Note: You will not be able to print your tickets right away. You will receive an email with printing instructions in early December.

6. Review your order for accuracy and check the box that indicates you agree to the terms of use.

7. Click "Submit Order" to finalize your ticket request.

Other Viewing Options

Guests who are unable to attend the ceremony in the Schottenstein Center are encouraged to watch the livestream broadcast online by clicking this link.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why ticket the ceremony?For the safety and comfort of all our graduates and their loved ones, a ticketing process was implemented with the intent to make every open seat available to graduates and their guests. We appreciate your cooperation as we work through this process.

What has been done to maximize available seating? We have decreased the size of the commencement platform and pushed it back to allow for more seating for graduates on the arena floor. Additionally, we opened all available seating sections – including those located behind the stage – for guest seating.

Can I share my unused tickets with another graduate?Students may share unused tickets with other graduates. However, the university does not condone the buying and selling of tickets.

I am an Ohio State faculty/staff member. Can I get tickets?Our top priority is to accommodate graduates and their guests. As such, tickets are not available to faculty or staff members at this time. Faculty who wish to participate in the ceremony as part of the faculty processional should click here for more information.

What if I apply to graduate after November 9?Students who apply to graduate after November 9 may still be eligible to request tickets to the ceremony, however they will receive the instructions and access for doing so at a later time. Please view the chart below to see when you might expect to receive your email instructions.

Date of Applying to Graduate

Expect Email Instructions by 5:00 p.m. on:

Before Nov. 9*

Nov. 15

Nov. 13 - Nov. 21

Nov. 26

After Nov. 21

Contact your College office

* First and foremost, students must meet all application deadlines set by their respective college offices and follow any rules set forth by their college for participating in the ceremony. Students who have applied and been approved to graduate by November 9 are eligible to apply for up to four general admission tickets, with the option of joining a waitlist to receive up to an additional four tickets. After November 9, requests for tickets will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

All information is subject to change. We recommend checking back periodically for updates.